Mustangs en route to state wrestling finals

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Feb 13, 2020 | Wrestling |

WINDOW ROCK

Thanks to a top finish at the Division IV Sectional IV Wrestling Tournament, the Monument Valley Mustang wrestling team is headed to the state wrestling tournament with 13 qualifiers.

The Mustangs swept three of the weight categories: Teankum Gilmore (17-2), Bradley Smallcanyon (28-7), and Shaun Tuni (35-11), at the sectional tournament held last weekend in Winslow.

Gilmore, wrestling in the 285-pound category taking the win over Ganado Hornet Shawndiin McCray (42-16) while Smallcanyon beating Winslow Bulldog Landon Shorty (39-9) in the 160-pound category and freshman sensation Shaun Tuni defeating Winslow Bulldog Wesley Scarbrough (26-10) in the 126-pound category.

With their win in the sectionals, the three Mustangs were guaranteed a top four seed at state, which will be held at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona this weekend.

That doesn’t guarantee them any medals, as they have to work their way into the medal rounds.

“We’re peaking at right time. We’ve been wresting pretty good,” Monument Valley coach Clyde McBride said. “We always want to peak, we want to be at your best come sectionals, at state.”

The 20-year coach said they’ve won at the Garret Spencer Wrestling Tournament in Shiprock, the 3A North Wrestling Tournament, and their own tournament. That gives them confidence as they prepare for state.

“Smallcanyon is having himself a good season,” McBride said. “He wrestled all season and he’s won.”

Smallcanyon took the top prize after beating Shorty at the sectional tournament. He also won the Pat Kenny Invite and the Peabody Classic. The two-time state qualifier will be making his third appearance at state as the No. 4 seed in his weight class.

Tuni pinned Scarbrough in 3:14, as the freshman is seeded No. 3 for the state tournament, which is going to be his first appearance.

“He’s amazing. The kid’s got tons of talent,” McBride said. “He’s trying to perfect what he like to do.”

Gilmore, the team’s biggest man, started the season at 330 pounds, his coach said. Since regulations require him to wrestle at 285, he lost 50 pounds to stay qualified. The senior wrestler is seeded No. 3 for state and he’s going in with a 17-2 record.

Three female wrestlers also qualified: Lorilee Begay, Jennifer Alcott and Bryanna Smallcanyon.

McBride attributed the success of the team to his assistant Harvey Starbuck and two wrestling programs called Rez Wrestling and Sheep Camp Wrestling.

‘You’re only as good as your coaching staff,” he said. “He’s (Starbuck) the one that developed our team into who it is.”

McBride said they are going down to “battle tough.”

“We are planning to showing up to state to wrestle. We’re going to wrestle the best we can and see some medal winners out of it,” he said.

Other state qualifiers include freshman Matthew Curley (106), senior Melton Curley (120), junior Kynell Cooley (152), senior Antone Tsinigine (170), senior Justin Graymountain (182), senior Tyler Etsitty (195) and Blane Begay (220).